Reaction motor, compressor and burner combination



7 Sept. 11, 1956 2,762,603

REACTION MOTOR, COMPRESSOR AND BURNER COMBINATION Filed Feb. 2, 1951 M- D LARKIN 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I N V EN TOR. 414227 0 LARK/N P 1956 M. D. LARKlN 2,762,603

REACTION MOTOR, COMPRESSOR AND BURNER COMBINATION Filed Feb. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- oTD F r \ZTMFH O 83 0o 89 X as O 9/ O 89 85 g0 93 Q 1.

INVENTOR MAR TIN 17. LARK/N ATTORNEY United States Patent M 2,762,603 REACTION MOTOR, COMPRESSOR AND BURNER COMBINATION Martin D. Lax-kin, st. Paul, Minn. Application February 2, 1951, Serial No..209,049

4 Claims. (Cl. 2535-71) In general the principal objects of my invention are,

to produce a package power plantfunit' of the foregoing character that is of simple construction, few parts, light weight, and is structurally strong, inexpensive to manufacture and has a high 'overall'efliciency.

Another important object is to provide aprimemover:

that can be readily and rapidly disassembled for inspectron or repair. IL e Still another object of the invention-is to provide a rotating power plant having 'a'minir'num of mechanical vibration." i 'j A'salient feature of'the invention envisagesfthe' employment of a compressor having 'its various stages mounted in a radial fashion, "which when accompanied by a mounting of the reaction motor' stage'sin'ageneraIIy similar manner, permits the use of short shaftmeans connecting the compressor and reaction ma er together. Due to the short shaft between the compressor and reaction motor dynamic unbalance isf practically elirr'l i-v nateda; 1 Y- a '2,

Other features and advantages' not specifically enurnerat'ed above will be apparent aftera consideration of the following detailed description andthe appended claims. A preferred form whichthe inventionfmay assuineis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my assembled power plant', the upper half thereof being in section; K

Figure 2 is an end view of an innerpa'rt of the cam:

bustor; v I V I Figure 3'is a fragmentaryview'of' the reaction rotor,

taken in the direction of lines 3-3 of Figure 1;'-

Figure'4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the're action rotor taken substantiallyin the direction of lines Figure '5 is a quarter section view of the "compressor taken in the direction of-lines*55 of Figure '1; and

Figure 6 is arm-exploded fragmentary cross-section showingthe manner-in which several compressor partsare; assembled.

Referring now to Figure lof thedrawings, it' Wlll be, seen that my power'unitincludes three-principal.

sections; the compressor A, the "combustor B and the reaction motor C e e v v The-casing for the compressor A comprises apair of circular end plates 10, 11 and a cylindrical cover 12 bolted or otherwise attached to these end plates. H The plate 11 is provided with central opening 13 which permits entrance of airat atmosphere pressure to the compressor.

"Within the casing10, 11and12is rotatably mounted 2,762,603 Fatented Sept. 11, 1956 ice a wheel or disc 14 having thereon any desired number of concentric or radially spaced flanges'15, 16, 17 and 18. These flanges may be conveniently formed integral with the wheel 14 at the time the wheel is machined from its forged blank.

A number of sleeves 19, 20, 21 and 22 equalling the number of flanges 15, 16, 17 and 19 are rotatively carried by the wheel 14, these sleeves having complemental flanges 23, 24, 25 and 26 projecting fromone end thereof whereby the flanges 23, 24, 25 and 26 may be shrunk onto the flanges 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively. On the opposite end of each sleeve 19, 20, 21 and 22 is situated a row of aerodynamically shaped blades 26", 27, 28 and 29, best viewed in Figure 5, which are preferably cut or milled directly on the sleeve ends. These blades for the construction depicted are preferably of a 10-15 angle with respect to a radial line passing therethrough. Each blade of the several rows 26, 27, 28 and 29 is provided with atenon 30, as will be more distinctly seen by reference to Figure 6.

Forming shroud bands for the tenons 30 are a plurality of rings 31, 32, 33 and 34 which contain a plurality of apertures 35 for the reception of the tenons 30, the tips of the tenons projecting slightly therebeyond to permit peening over to thereby retain each ring in place and to provide connecting support between the various tenons 30. From the foregoing it will be understood that the blading 26', 27, 28 and 29 is mounted for rotation with the wheel 14.

As in conventional compressors, the air leaving one stage of moving blades must be properly redirected for further compression by the succeeding stage of moving blades. Accordingly, the invention contemplates the utilization of intermediate stationary vanes 35, 36, and 37 which may best be discerned in Figure 5. These stationary vanes are preferably milled on a plurality of sleeves 38, 39 and 40, the sleeves being provided with mounting flanges that can be attached to the removable end plate 11, as by bolting. As with the movable or impeller blading previously described, these vanes are similarly provided with tenons which are engaged by apertured rings.

From Figure 1 of the drawings it will be observed that the various stages of radially spaced blades and vanes are gradually tapered, which tapering in conjunction with the fact that each succeeding row of moving blades is traveling at a faster linear speed than the preceding row by virtue of the diiference in radii thereof produces a high degree of compression. It will of course be appreciated that any desired number of stages can be used.

From the last row of impeller blading 29, the compressed air is directed into a suitable diffuser. 'A relatively simple form of diffuser is illustrated, it comprising a pair of angularly diverging strip members 41, 42 forming 'a slot 43 in registry with the row of blades 29, the members 41, 42 being welded or otherwise aflixed to a perforated cylinder 44. The cylinder 44 is supported in a spaced relation with respect to the cover 12 to thereby form a collecting chamber 45 for the compressed air. The compressed air contained within the chamber 45 may be fed to the combustor B via a duct or conduit 46.

The combustor or. burner B in general appearance resemblesthose burners used with gas turbines of common construction. Although only a single burner has been depicted, it will be understood that any satisfactory number maybe used, depending upon the particular rating of the power unit as a whole.

A generally cylindrical outer casing 47, dome-shaped at one end, and an inner liner 48, similarly dome-shaped, constitute the basicvparts of the combustor B. These members 47 and 48 are spaced from each other to proere? vide a chamber 49 into which the air carried by the duct 46 is directed. A certain amount of air preheating can be achieved by having'the air enter at the end removed from the fuel nozzle end.

The fuel nozzle is of conventional construction and comprises a sleeve 50, internal guide bearings 51, a valve 2and a compression spring 53 biasing the valve to closed position. An inlet tube 54 is used to supply fuel to the nozzle, the bearings 51 being apertured or grooved to permit passing of the fuel inwardly to the liner 48.

The nozzle of course projects into the interior of the liner 48 and in order to permit differential expansion between the casing 47 and the liner 48, the sleeve 51 is fixedly attached to only the casing 47, there being a slight annular clearance between the sleeve 59 and the liner 48 for relative movement between the liner 48 and the sleeve 50.

The novel feature of my combustor B resides in the manner in which the air is directed from the chamber 49 inwardly through the liner 48 to the fuel being sprayed substantially radially outwardly from the nozzle tip. I utilize a plurality of inlet ports 55 that are formed so as to lie in a plane making an angle of approximately with the general curvature of the dome end of the liner 48. In so arranging the ports I propose to stamp elongated raised sections into the liner walls to produce sloping wall portions 56 and 57. The wall portion 56 contains the ports 55, and as already indicated the sloping portions 56 are at approximately 15 angles. 1 have further discovered that by disposing the portions 56, 57 in the whorled fashion depicted in Figure 2 the air is better distributed to the fuel being injected into the liner 48, thus increasing the flame stabilization. While not shown, it will be understood that a spark plug or other incandescent means is provided to initially ignite the gaseous mixture of air and fuel.

As will be seen from Figure l, the walls of the liner 48 converge toward the end opposite the dome end to form a reduced diameter outlet 58 for the hot gases. Between the inner end of the casing 47 and the liner 48 is an annular end plate 59 which completes the enclosing of the compartment 49. This plate 59 may be welded into position to produce a unitary combustor assembly.

The reaction motor C includes a pair of spaced end plates 60, 61 and a cylindrical cover 62 therebetween. The end plate 60 is provided with a central opening for the reception of the combustor B, the combustor preferably being bolted in place.

Within the casing 60-62 and axially adjacent the outlet'58 is an opening 63 contained in an annular disc 64 which disc serves as a seal, confining the flow of hot gases to the desired path. Axially displaced from the disc 64 is a rotatable wheel 65, the disc 64 and wheel 65cooperating to form a gas passage 66.

Carried at the periphery of the wheel 65 is a sleeve 66, and a sleeve 67 of the same diameter is similarly carried by the disc 64, the two sleeves being spaced from each other to form an opening 68 through which the gases flow. Outwardly of the sleeves 66 and 67 are radially positioned a number of concentric sleeves 69, 7 0, 71 and 72. These sleeves 69, 70, 71 and 72 are retained in their radially spaced relation with each other by virtue of several pairs of rings 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 and 90, which are preferably welded intermediate the sleeve ends. As will presently be made apparent, these pairs of rings are not of the same radial thickness.

Interposed between neighboring pairs of sleeves 69, 70, 71 and 72 are a number of partition or wall elements which are preferably positioned at an angle of approximately 15 with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheel 65. These wall elements are both circumferentially and axially spaced from each other, the wall elements thus forming a series of circumferential rows as will later be made more apparent. It will be recognized that any two of the wall elements residing in a single row in conjunction with bordering sections of the neighboring sleeves will form a reaction passage or chamber for the flow of gases therethrough.

The preceding paragraph has dealt in general terms with the structure now to be described with more particularity. The first row of wall elements encountered by the gases after flowing through a plurality of apertures 81 contained at one end of the sleeve 69 is designated by the reference numeral 82. These wall elements 32, as well as other wall elements hereinafter referred to, may be milled or cut as integral parts of the sleeve 69 during the forming of the sleeve from an originally thick cylindrical blank, or they can be welded or otherwise secured to the sleeve 69. It will be noted that the sleeve is grooved at the exit edge of the wall elements 82, such groove being designated by the reference number 83. At the other side of the groove 83 from the elements 82 is located a second row of wall elements 84. The only difference between the second row of partitions or wall elements 84 and the first row 82 is that the elements of the second row are of a slightly greater radial length than the row 82 It will be understood that the gases when passing through the passages formed by the wall elements 82 and the portions of the sleeves 69 and react against these members and in so doing expand. Because of this expansion, the passages or small open ended compartments formed between the blades 84 must be of larger volume to properly accommodate the expanded gases. This increased volume is obtained by virtue of the increased vertical length of the wall elements 84. It will be appreciated that the sleeve 69 is made thinner in the region of the element 84 than in the region of the elements 82.

Succeeding rows of wall elements, which are situated at the same sleeve level, are of the same construction as the elements 82 and 84, but are axially progressively larger. In view of the exact number of rows being a matter of design, no reference numerals are assigned to these subsequent elements.

In the sleeve 70 there is provided a set of apertures 85 for conducting the gases from the first annular level to the next level outwardly thereof, that is, to the level between the sleeves 69 and 70. From Figure 4 it will be seen that all of the rows of wall elements at this second level are angularly disposed in an opposite direction from those at the first level. It will be recognized that such a reversal of angularity is necessary in order to develop a torque at this level acting in the same direction as that of the first level, the gases at the second level traveling in a reverse direction.

The first row of wall elements encountered by the gases in their reverse flow at the second level bears the reference numeral 86. While there can be any number of intermediate rows, the last row at this level is given the reference numeral 87. Again it should be noted that the wall elements 87 are longer in radial length than the elements 86, and are likewise considerably longer than the elements 82. It will be seen that the elements 82 and 87 appear in Figure 4, which figure also provides a ready comparison of their radial lengths.

In order to understand fully how this increase in radial length is achieved, one should appreciate that the pair of rings 77, 78 is of greater radial thickness than the inner pair of rings 75, 76. In this way there is a general increase in space made available, and by reducing the thickness of the sleeve 70 as the gas flows'to the left in Figure 1, further increments of radial length are obtained,these increment being reflected in the difference in length between the wall elements 86 and 87, and of course in the unnumbered intermediate elements.

The gases leaving the passages. or chambers defined by the wall elements 87 are directed to :a third level through a plurality of apertures 88 in the sleeve 71, the gases then passing between the wall elements 89 constituting -a first at that level. From Figure 4 it will be seen that these elements 89 are angularly disposed in the same direction as the elements 82 at the first level, the gases flowing in the same axial direction to the right. 1

As best seen from Figure 3, the gases leaving the first row 89 traverse a groove 90, then proceed to flOlW through the passages formed by a row of elements 91, then traverse a groove 92, then through a row designated 93, another groove 94 and finally a row of elements 95. Of course it will be understood that additional annular levels of rows can be used, but it is believed that the several levels and the rows of these levels which have been depicted adequately illustrate the principle involved and the recommended structure for carrying out the involved principle.

It will be understood that the rings 79, 80 are of greater radial thickness than the rings 77, 78, these latter r-ings having already been described as being thicker radially than the rings 73, 74. As before, the increased thickness of the rings 79 and 80 provide the proper environment for increasing the radial length of the wall elements 89, 91, 93, 95, these last mentioned elements in turn dilfering progressively in radial length by virtue of making the sleeve 71 progressively thinner as the gases move toward the right in Figure 1.

Depending upon the particular application of the reaction motor C, that is, for a straight mechanical drive or for jet propulsion, the gases leaving the elements 95 will either have spent most of their energy in expanding through the various stages of reaction above described or will still retain suflicient energy for the production of a rearward jet. In any event, the gases leaving the elements 95 pass through a number of apertures 96 provided in the outermost sleeve 72 into a chamber 97 within the confines of the casing 6062. From this chamber 92 the gases may be bled olf through a duct 98 to atmosphere, to a heating system or to a jet nozzle, as the case may be.

The invention lends itself readily to the use of only two bearings, the wheels 14 and 65 overhanging these bearings. Accordingly I provide a pair of stub shafts 99 and 100 that may be bolted to the wheels 14 and 65. Near the unattached ends of these shafts 99 and 100, a pair of tapered pins 101 and 102 is employed, the pins extending through correspondingly tapered apertures in the shafts, the ends of the pins projecting beyond a sleeve 103 circumjacent the shaft ends. At the ends of the sleeve 103 are conventional ball bearings 104 and 105, their outer races being fixedly contained within the ends of a sleeve 106. Access holes 107, 108, 109 and 110 are provided in the sleeve 106, these holes permitting the pins 101 and 102 to be removed by hammering on the end of a bar inserted into any selected holes 107, 108, 109 and 110 and engaged with the small ends of the pins 101, 102.

Retaining the casings of the compressor A and the reaction motor C in spaced alignment are a plurality of channeled braces 110', i111 and 112. These braces may be bolted into place and will normally remain undistunbed throughout the life of the machine in that various parts of the unit may be removed for inspection or repair by removing the end plates 11 and 60. After removal of the tapered pins 101 and 102 and the plates 11 and 60, the wheels 14 and 65 can be easily slid axially from their respective casings or housings. Should only the combustor B require attention, it alone can be unbolted from the end plate without detaching other parts of the unit. Thus, it will be noted that I have devised a compact machine of the character described which can be assembled and disassembled in a matter of minutes.

As already indicated, it is within the purview of the invention to utilize the machine for mechanically driving various apparatus. Therefore, there is provided a coupling element 113 attached to the impeller wheel 14. Access is had to the couplingelement 113 through the opening 13 in the end plate 1 1.

In view of the foregoing it is believed that the operation of my prime mover will be obvious. To start the apparatus a starting motor or source of compressed air is utilized, neither of which is illustrated. After the fuel supply has been turned on the air and fuel mixture is ignited, as by a spark plug. The unit is then self-sustaining, the speed being controlled by a governor mechanism, not shown. Air is continually drawn into the compressor Athrough the opening 13,- and is compressed to any desired compression ratio'by the plurality of annularly orradially spaced stages constituted by the moving blades 26', 27, 28 and 29 and the stationary vanes 35, 36 and 3 7.

Th-ecom-bustor B suppliesthe energy for driving the reaction rotor, the air from the compressor A being .fed into the chamber 49 from whence it is led into the interior of the liner 48. The fuel being supplied by the nozzle mixes with this incoming air and is continuously ignited by the hot gases within the liner 48. I

The gases from the combustor B flow into the passage 66 and outwardly to the many passages or chambers formed between the various wall elements 82, etc. No stationary blading is necessary in that the gases contained within the first row of passages react within these passages before passing to the next row and so on until the gases have expanded themselves, this being when they leave the passages residing between the wall elements 95. The spent gases are then exhausted via the duct 98.

It will be appreciated that I have devised an exoeedingly comp-act machine, and because of its light weight construction readily lends itself to aircraft propulsion, either by means of a jet, propeller drive or a combination of both. The almost complete absence of any vibration promotes long life, this being because of the machines extremely short axial length, thereby eliminating extended rotating ends that whip about a center point. In many installations the case of disassembly will be of appreciable benefit too. All of these attributes combine to produce a highly efiicaceous power plant.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that it is only illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reaction motor comprising a rotatable wheel,

a plurality of rows of radially spaced axially extending annular sleeves, a plurality of annular rings adjacent the ends of the sleeves and secured thereto for holding the said rows of sleeves in radially spaced relationship, said spacing annular rings rotatable in unison with said sleeves and the wheel, a plurality of circumferentially and axially spaced rows of partition elements extending between said sleeves and forming rows of reaction chambers therewith, each sleeve having at least one aperture so that a fluid may successively enter and successively pass through said rows of reaction chambers.

2. The reaction motor claimed in claim 1 in which the axially spaced rows of partition elements provide rows of chambers of progressively increasing size between the two innermost sleeves with the progression continuing between successive pairs of sleeves.

3. A reaction motor comprising a rotatable wheel,

an annular sleeve carried by the wheel, a plurality of succeeding annular sleeves spaced radially outwardly from said first sleeve, said succeeding sleeves being progressively spaced farther apart, annular spacing rings connecting the ends of the sleeves for retaining said sleeves in their spaced relation with each other and rotatable in unison with said sleeves and said wheel, circumferentially and axially spaced rows of partition elements mounted intermediate the sleeves and forming rows of circumferentially spaced reaction 'chambers therewith, said partition elements being of successively increasing siz'e'in each row to form successive chambers of progressive'ly increasing size in each row, the said sleeves having apertures ther'ein'at opposite ends thereof, the apertures serving to connect the chambers of one radial level with the chambers of the next succeeding level'wher'eby a fluid may flow successively through said chambers of progressively increasing size'.

41' A reaction motor comprising a rotatable wheel, a plurality'of radially spaced axially extending annular sleeves having apertures therein and fixedly associated with the wheel for rotation therewith, a plurality of axially spaced rows of circumferentially spaced wall elementsfint'erm'ediate the sleeves forming a series of altern'ate successive circumferential communicating passages therewith, said sleeves in conjunction with said wall elements'form'ing rows of chambers of progressively increasing size as the said series of passageways which are between said apertures, and a disc engaged with one end of the innermost sleeve, said disc being axially displaced from said wheel to provide in conjunctionwith a said apertur'in the innermost sleeve an inlet passage to said communicating passage and rotatable with said sleeves.

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